Coliman’s Nogales office enters second winter deal
RIO RICO, AZ — Entering its second season in the Nogales area is a relatively new office of Coliman Pacific Corp.
Juan Carlos Chavez heads the office and works in sales with Daniel (Danny) Lopez. Diana Rangel provides support in the office, which opened in October 2013.
Florida Citrus Hall of Fame 2015 inductees
The selection committee for the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame has announced three distinguished leaders will be inducted into the FCHOF during the 53rd Citrus Celebration Luncheon March 6 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.
Nicholas (Nick) D. Faryna (deceased), formerly of Umatilla, FL, Sherwood J. (Buddy) Johnson, of Ft. Pierce, FL, and John C. Updike, Sr. (deceased), formerly of Lake Wales, FL, will be honored at the luncheon.
Albertsons, Safeway selling 168 stores to four buyers
Albertsons and Safeway Inc. have entered into agreements, subject to approval by the Federal Trade Commission, to sell 168 stores across eight states to four buyers: Associated Food Stores, Associated Wholesale Grocers, SuperValu and Haggen.
Associated Food Stores will purchase eight stores in Montana and Wyoming; Associated Wholesale Grocers/Minyards will purchase 12 stores in Texas; SuperValu will purchase two stores in Washington; and Haggen will purchase 146 stores across Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
Congressional decisions benefit RRV and other potato industry segments
Along with other sectors of the national potato industry, Red River Valley grower-shippers will benefit from the U.S. Senate passing the $1.1 trillion Consolidated & Further Continuing Appropriations Act, which is part of the 2015 spending bill.
USApple reporting 2014 apple crop is one of the largest on record
On Dec. 1, this year’s fresh apple holdings totaled 122.2 million bushels, a 16 percent increase from the same time last year, according to the December 2014 edition of the U.S. Apple Association’s Market News.
Weather conditions in Chile have been favorable for this season’s crops
Apart from some recent rains that affected cherry volumes, weather conditions have been favorable for this season. “We expect to see volume increases across all commodities, even cherries,” said Karen Brux, managing director of the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association, North America, based in San Carlos, CA.
Happy Holidays
In keeping with a longstanding tradition, The Produce News office is closed from Dec. 22 through Dec. 26 to celebrate the holidays and give our staff members some down time to spend with their families.
We will resume our normal schedule for posting breaking industry news Dec. 29. Thank you for your patience, and enjoy the holidays.
Sincerely,
The Produce News staff
WSJ story relevance questioned by Organic Trade Association
In its Dec. 9 edition, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is having difficulty monitoring the more than 25,000 farms and other organizations that sell organic crops and livestock because of the tripling in the size of that sector over the past decade.
California Giant event helps Salvation Army, families in need
For the fifth year in a row, California Giant Berry Farms has participated in the local NBC Affiliate KSBW holiday event called ‘Share Your Holiday.’ Each year the station has a telethon-style event throughout the central coast of California over an eight-hour time period encouraging the community to donate food, clothing, toys and cash to support the local chapters of the Salvation Army.
Mexican veg deal coming on for Ciruli Bros.
RIO RICO, AZ — Mexican vegetable volume is building this December for Ciruli Bros. LLC, based here.
Chris Ciruli, the firm’s chief operating officer, indicated Dec. 9 that the Los Mochis, Sinaloa, green bean deal had just begun. Ciruli was also receiving hot peppers and green, yellow and Mexican gray squash.
Slightly farther to the south, Culiacan was shipping eggplant and cucumbers, with colored Bell peppers, tomatoes and Romas due to start by Christmas.
“Those will be our last new items until mangos start March 1," he said.